GULF SHORES, Alabama -- Gary Rogers fought the Viet Cong in 1968, 1969 and 1970 for the 3rd Marine Division Northern I-Corps during three tours in the Vietnam War. Earlier this month the Alabama veteran returned to Southeast Asia for the first time.

"I just wanted to go back and see what it looked like after all these years," said Rogers.

After flying into Hanoi this November, Rogers revisited some of the same spots where his combat took place in the jungles. Rogers showed AL.com some of the photos he shot while there, pictures that included an abandoned C-130 aircraft.

"It was wild going back there and seeing this C-130 in the jungles," he said. Rogers added that he found his return a welcome one. "It was good to go back to Vietnam. I found people were very welcoming."